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What’s Up: Most churches that are growing aren’t growing because of their evangelism strategy.
So What: According to Leadership Network, only 4% of growing churches are growing through conversion evangelism. That’s not just a stat. That’s an indictment. If you’re not making disciples, you’re not obeying Jesus.
The Point Is:
Inviting Is Not Evangelism
Inviting someone to church is marketing. Evangelism is proclaiming the gospel in a way that leads to repentance, faith, and following Jesus.
Bible Studies Don’t Disciple
If your small group isn’t producing more disciple-makers, it’s not a discipleship group. It’s spiritual infotainment. Nice, but not the mission.
Fruit Means More Disciples
Jesus defined fruit as more followers, not more knowledge. If your church isn’t multiplying, it’s not fruitful. Period.
Evangelism Starts in the Culture
The gospel has to leave the pews. Evangelism today requires relationships, cultural fluency, and proximity to the unchurched. As my friend Neil Cole once said, “If we’re going to be faithful to the Great Commission, we’re going to have to sit in the smoking section.”
And … ?
Evangelism today isn’t about memorizing a script or stuffing tracts under windshield wipers. It’s not about bumper stickers or T-shirts with pithy slogans. The new evangelism looks a lot like the old Jesus. He didn’t shout from the synagogue steps, he walked the streets. He ate with sinners. He stayed up late with Nicodemus. He hung out at wells, at dinner tables, and in the back of boats. And that’s exactly where we need to be.
We need to stop expecting the unchurched to show up in our buildings and we need to start showing up in their lives. That means fewer church potlucks and more coffee with co-workers. It means trading our holy huddles for real friendships with real people who don’t share our faith. Evangelism starts with presence. Proximity. Patience. And yes, eventually, proclamation. But not with a tract. With a testimony. You want your church to grow? Then get out of the Christian ghetto and sit in the smoking section.
Action!
Download the Leadership Development Manual to train leaders who multiply disciples: https://go.effectivechurch.com/lm-leadership-development
